Keith Jackson has predicted that James Tavernier will not be a Rangers player by the end of the summer transfer window.
Tavernier has already been linked with an exit before 30 August, with the Bears rejecting an official proposal from Trabzonspor [Fabrizio Romano].
Speaking on the Daily Record Hotline (1 August), Jackson doesn’t think that Rangers will be “difficult to deal with” when negotiating a possible deal.
“I don’t think he (Tavernier) will be at Rangers by the end of the window,” said Jackson.
“In order for that to happen, they will need to find someone who is willing to pay whatever fee Rangers are asking.
“I don’t think they’ll be difficult to deal with because he’s at a certain age and whatever anyone says about Tavernier he’s been a tremendous servant for Rangers football club so I don’t think they’ll be difficult.
“The manager identified at the end of last season his need for a new leadership group, Tavernier after everything he’s done there does he want to be on the outside of that?
“It’ll be interesting to see who’s leading them out of the tunnel at Tynecastle.”
James Tavernier to quit Rangers before 30 August
Tavernier will not be in the long-term plans given his age.
Despite the defender coming out and saying that he’s “fully committed” [Rangers TV, 1 August] to the job at hand, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before a deal is struck for his departure.
Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor are still one of the teams most touted with an interest in acquiring the defender despite their failed first bid [Rangers Review, 23 July].
Whilst Tavernier is still the strongest right-back, at the age of 31 and due to the high wages he will no doubt be raking in each week, it feels as if a sale makes the most sense.
The club have already undergone many changes with the likes of John Lundstram, Borna Barisic and Ryan Jack already exiting Ibrox.
And, whatever money the club could potentially raise from his sale could be put straight back into improving the team across the board.
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